Recently, we came across a first grader’s answer to the following riddle: I am the beginning of everything, the end of everywhere. I’m the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space. What am I?
The teacher was looking for the letter ‘e.’ This is a clever answer within the limits of the English language. The answer given by the 6-year-old, however, transcended the limits of language. The answer offered was ‘nothinging.’ This answer adds more space and universality than the one sought by the teacher.
What is Nothinging? Nothinging is Eternal manifesting as Now, spontaneously without volition. As Adyashanti so beautifully stated, “Nothing becoming something while remaining nothing.”
Our encouragement is to stop, sit with an open mind, and appreciate the child’s wisdom recognizing Nothinging, directly experiencing Nothinging as existentially beyond all concepts.
What sees all concepts, including Nothinging? Again, stop, open to the sensation of what is naturally unfolding beyond all concepts. Rest as This.
Matthew 18:2-4: He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 21:16: “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “’From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
Siddhartha Gautama Buddha: “The heart of a child is like that of Buddha (awakened one/enlightened one).”
Enjoy, Steve and Bec